Charles Hoey, VC
There ain’t nothing sacred. Among the six Cowichan Valley schools just slated for closure is Duncan’s Charles Hoey, VC School.
VC, for those of you who don’t recognize these illustrious initials, stands for Victoria Cross, the British Empire’s highest award for bravery under fire. Maj. Charles Ferguson Hoey’s was one of only 100 awarded among the millions of service men and women who served in the Commonwealth armed forces during the Second World War.
The Cowichan Valley’s sole recipient of the vaunted Victoria Cross, Maj. Charles Hoey, who’d already earned the Military Medal. Both were awarded posthumously.
He’d previously earned the MM, or Military Medal, at Maungdaw, Burma [now Myanmar] in July 1943 for “his complete disregard for his personal safety. [Hoey] remained completely imperturbable in face of all difficulties and dangers. His personal example was an inspiration to all his men and contributed to a great extent to the success of the operation. The force succeeded in hitting at least 22 Japanese for certain. The majority of these were killed. Owing to the skilful handling of his force, Major Hoey only sustained three casualties, of other ranks, wounded. Major Hoey’s determination, courage and skill during the whole of the operation were beyond praise.’
His Victoria Cross cost him his life
Unfortunately, Charles Hoey’s VC, awarded him in May 1944, was awarded posthumously.
Born March 29, 1914 in Duncan, B.C., the older son of Ferguson and Mary Rudyard Hoey, young Charles attended Duncan Grammar School and Duncan High School. Determined from childhood to be a soldier, he enlisted in the West Kent Regiment of the British Army in 1933 and, after winning a cadetship to the Royal Military College at Sandhurst, he graduated in December 1936.
After a brief visit home he joined the 2nd Battalion, the Lincolnshire Regiment [now the Royal Lincolnshires] then transferred to the 1st Battalion of the same regiment which was stationed in India. In 1942 he accompanied the 1st Battalion to Burma to fight the Japanese against whom he earned his MM in July ‘43.
On February 16, 1944, to quote The Canadian Virtual War Memorial, “Major Hoey’s company formed a part of a force which was ordered to capture a position [near the Ngakyedauk Pass, Arakan] at all costs. After a night march through enemy-held territory, the force was met at the foot of the position by heavy machine-gun fire.
Hoey led the charge, firing from the hip
“Major Hoey personally led his company under heavy machine-gun fire and rifle fire right up to the objective. Although wounded at least twice in the leg and head, he seized a Bren gun from one of his men and firing from the hip, led his company on to the objective. In spite of his wounds the company had difficulty keeping up with him, and Major Hoey reached the enemy strong post first, where he killed all the occupants before being mortally wounded.
“Major Hoey’s outstanding gallantry and leadership, his total disregard of personal safety and his grim determination to reach the objective resulted in the capture of this vital position.”
Awarded his VC posthumously, Charles Hoey, 29, was the Cowichan Valley’s sole Victoria Cross holder of both world wars. He’s buried in the Taukkyan War Cemetery outside Yangon (formerly Rangoon), Burma (Myanmar). His Victoria Cross is on display at the Sabraon Barrack in Lincoln, England and the altar rail in the Lincoln Cathedral is in his memory and that of Capt. J. Brunt, VC, MC.
While serving with the Royal Canadian Scottish Regiment, RCIC, seven weeks after D-Day and just four months after Charles’s death, younger brother Lieut. Trevor Ferguson Hoey was killed in France. Both Hoeys are listed on the Duncan Cenotaph and on the Cenotaph at St. Peter’s Church, Quamichan.
Besides Charles Hoey, VC School, Charles is memorialized by a small downtown Duncan park where, each August, members of the Burma Star Association hold a memorial service after an earlier service at the Burma Star cairn in Cowichan River Provincial Park. This monument honours the so-called Forgotten Army, British soldiers whose war against the Japanese in Burma has been overshadowed by the European war.
Recommended reading:
! The Canadian Virtual War Memorial, Veteran Affairs Canada
! Commonwealth War Graves Commission
! British Columbia Branch of the Burma Star Association
! www.burmastar.org.uk
I teach in Lincoln, England and have done assembly telling the story of the heroic Charlie Hoey. As our curriculum changes again, I hope to keep his story and memory alive by including him. He has an altar rail in Lincoln Cathedral commemorating him & his great sacrifice; he is not forgotten!
Hi, Paul: You will be pleased to know that the Hoey house in Duncan where Charles and his brother Trevor grew up, has been completely restored after a major reno and has new,loving owners. I’ve met Gary and Sharron Carpentier and they’re the perfect residents for what is now a beautiful home.
It had been allowed to run down, been repossessed by the bank and faced what everyone thought would be demolition and re-developmet as it’s on a large lot. But thanks to Rick and Karen Starck of Hammer Time Construction, and the equally serendipitous purchase by the Carpentiers, the Hoey house is saved! I can send you photos if you wish.
Bless you, too,for your efforts on behalf of keeping Charles’ memory alive in England. –TWP
I lived in the Hoey House from 1994 to 1999. It was wonderful, magical and haunted. There was even a ghost cat that my cats used to play with. A lady in the garden (only seen out of the corner of ones eye) and a man in boots upstairs who used to wake me up clumping around. But the home was just that, warm, inviting, and the new renovation, while it modernizes it, pays great tribute to its heritage. The new owners are wonderful. And one day, the garden will return to its former glory.
Hi, Sharon: The sympathetic restoration of the Hoey house is one of our better heritage achievements in recent years and the new owners are the perfect fit.
I didn’t know about your ghosts.
Did you see my article on the restoration in the Summer issue of Arbutus magazine?
Thanks for dropping by two twp.com! –TW
Hi Tom, no I did not see the article. I will try to find a copy on line. The Cowichan Folklore Society interviewed both me and my neighbour, whose home was on the same property originally before it was subdivided. We both had paranormal experiences. One day I will tell you about them.
Hi, Sharon: You might be able to get a copy of Arbutus at the Citizen. Failing that, I can provide you with a copy. And, yes, let’s chat about your paranormal experiences some time. (I’m writing a book on Victoria ghosts, by the way.)–TW3
I do have a copy of “A Gathering of Ghosts,” by Robin Skelton and Jean Kozkari, if you would like to see it. That book is quite a few years old but it had to do with Victoria Ghosts as well.
Hi, Sharon: I thought I had this book but it appears that I don’t; yes, I would appreciate seeing it, thank you.
Do you realize that Halloween is only two months away? Good grief…